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4 August 2017

Christmas Cracker Bubble Bar

A few years ago, Lush released a concept bath bomb in the shape of a Christmas cracker. Weighing in at almost double the size of a regular ballistic, this seasonal special burst open to reveal an array of extra goodies inside - including a paper hat and a terrible joke. Unfortunately, these perks made the bath bomb extremely heavy, and they plummeted down into the depths of the Lush abyss, much like their performance in the bath.

Fast forward a few years and the brand new Christmas Cracker Bubble Bar is released into the world. This limited edition not only sports a more attractive design but one that heeds far better results in the water. While we have lost the innards and seemingly half the weight, this bubble bar is definitely more attractive and far easier to use than its older sibling. Sharing its scent with Cheer Up Buttercup Bath Bomb, this bubble bar is a feast for anyone who enjoys a bright, zesty fragrance to bathe with. Featuring both lemon myrtle and lemon oils, the product is the perfect remedy for an early morning bath - when the idea of peeling back those covers and embracing the bitterly-cold morning seems like the worst idea in the world. Given that Cheer Up Buttercup won my heart over this year and almost became my joint favourite bath bomb of all time, the scent of this is one that I am happy to experience again and again. Although not a complex scent at all, Christmas Cracker is incredibly citrusy - like a lemon sherbet procreating with a tub of lemon sorbet. It packs a powerful punch, with the inclusion of the lime adding to its tartness and making this refreshing but equally potent aroma one that will awaken even the most stubbornest of senses. While all of these ingredients give this seasonal bubble bar a strong smell that lasts throughout the entire bathing experience, and even lingers on the skin for a short while after you've towelled yourself down, there are other benefits to bathing with this product. Lemon oil is known for its ability to bring out the natural shine of the skin, without making you look at all greasy, and it also works at cleansing and clearing out the pores, leaving you feeling really clean and radiant at the same time. The addition of the neroli means that your spirits will be lifted and stimulated while you bathe, and despite its name giving reference to the coldest time of the year, these components will leave you feeling a little more optimistic, and a little more loved.Given its size, this bubble bar will easily last a good 3-4 baths if you're being reserved with your Lush products. I chose to use half of the bar in one go and found that Christmas Cracker is really effective at producing a good amount of light, fluffy bubbles. What was really great was walking into the bathroom and being engulfed by the strong, citrusy aroma, which stayed with me throughout my entire time in the bath. The bubble bar crumbled with ease and turned the water a comforting shade of orange; the sound of popping candy crackled under the surface and offered a really wonderful warming experience that left me feeling really exuberated afterwards. My only negative point about this limited edition is the fact that I didn't find it to be as moisturising as I was expecting it to be, especially given the fact that it contains a generous helping of cocoa butter. Don't get me wrong - Christmas Cracker leaves your skin feeling smooth and soft. However, it doesn't quite match up to the likes of Bewitched Bubble Bar or Peeping Santa in terms of how silky-soft the water is, and how nourished your body feels afterwards. Overall, I will definitely be buying a few more of these to pair with my favourite bath bomb, and I may even have to rely on this product to help me make it through some of the most difficult mornings in the foreseeable future.